Victor Jara
Christy Moore Lyrics


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Victor Jara
Arlo Guthrie/A. Mitchell
Victor Jara of Chile lived like a shooting star
He fought for the people of Chile with his songs and his guitar
His hands were gentle and his hands were strong

Victor Jara was a peasant boy barely six years old
He sat upon his father's plough and watched the earth unfold

When the neighbours had a wedding or one of their children died
His mother sang all night to them with Victor by her side

He grew up to be a fighter stood against what was wrong
He learned of peoples grief and joy and turned it into song

He sang for the copper miners and those who farmed the land
He sang for the factory workers who knew Victor was their man

He campaigned for Allende canvassed night and day
Singing take hold of your brother's hand the future starts today

When Pinochet seized Chile they arrested Victor then -
They caged him in the stadium with 5000 frightened men

Victor picked up his guitar his voice resounded strong
And he sang for his comrades till the guards cut short his song

They broke the bones in both his hands and beat him on the head
Tortured him with electric wires then they shot him dead

Victor Jara of Chile lived like a shooting star




He fought for the people of Chile with his songs and his guitar
His hands were gentle and his hands were strong

Overall Meaning

The song "Victor Jara" by Christy Moore tells the life story of Victor Jara, a Chilean folk singer who became popular for his songs that criticized authority and inequality. The song starts with a description of Victor's personality and fighting spirit. It then goes back to his childhood, portraying him as a curious boy who loved music and nature. The second verse shows the power of music in Victor's family, where his mother used to sing to help people cope with difficult situations.


As Victor grew up, he became aware of the injustice and suffering around him and decided to use his music as a medium for change. The third verse talks about his activism and how he used his songs to support copper miners, farmers, and factory workers. He was also a vocal supporter of President Allende, who tried to reform Chilean politics and economy but was overthrown by the military in a coup led by Pinochet in 1973.


The last verse of the song describes Victor's capture, torture, and eventual death by the military regime. Despite being brutally murdered, his legacy and music still live on, inspiring generations of activists and artists to fight against oppression and for a better world.


Line by Line Meaning

Victor Jara of Chile lived like a shooting star
Victor Jara was a prominent singer-songwriter in Chile, who achieved great success and popularity at a young age.


He fought for the people of Chile with his songs and his guitar
Victor Jara used the power of music to champion the rights of the Chilean people, and to protest against government oppression and injustice.


His hands were gentle and his hands were strong
Victor Jara was a skilled musician, who possessed both great sensitivity and impressive strength of character.


Victor Jara was a peasant boy barely six years old
Victor Jara grew up in humble beginnings, with his early years spent working the land alongside his family.


He sat upon his father's plough and watched the earth unfold
As a young child, Victor Jara spent time observing the natural world around him, and reflecting on the cycles of life and death.


When the neighbours had a wedding or one of their children died
Victor Jara's mother was a kind-hearted woman, who would sing and play music to help her friends and neighbours through both times of celebration and sadness.


His mother sang all night to them with Victor by her side
Victor Jara learned the power of music from his mother, who would perform for others late into the night, with Victor often accompanying her on the guitar.


He grew up to be a fighter stood against what was wrong
Victor Jara became a passionate advocate for social justice, and was not afraid to speak out against those who were perpetrating injustice and oppression in Chile.


He learned of peoples grief and joy and turned it into song
Victor Jara was deeply attuned to the emotions of the people around him, and was able to channel those feelings into his music, creating songs that resonated with his audiences.


He sang for the copper miners and those who farmed the land
Victor Jara used his music to support the struggles of the working-class people in Chile, including those working in the mining and agricultural industries.


He sang for the factory workers who knew Victor was their man
Victor Jara had a strong connection with the factory workers in Chile, who appreciated his commitment to their cause and his ability to articulate their experiences through his music.


He campaigned for Allende canvassed night and day
Victor Jara was a vocal supporter of Salvador Allende, the leftist politician who became president of Chile in 1970.


Singing take hold of your brother's hand the future starts today
Victor Jara used his music to call for unity and solidarity among the people of Chile, urging them to come together in the face of a challenging future.


When Pinochet seized Chile they arrested Victor then -
After a military coup led by General Augusto Pinochet overthrew Allende's government in 1973, Victor Jara was targeted by the new regime for his political activism and outspokenness.


They caged him in the stadium with 5000 frightened men
Victor Jara was held captive along with thousands of other political prisoners in a sports stadium in Santiago, where they were subject to brutal treatment and abuse at the hands of the military authorities.


Victor picked up his guitar his voice resounded strong
Even in the face of extreme danger and uncertainty, Victor Jara remained committed to his music and his message, using his guitar and his voice to uplift and inspire his fellow prisoners.


And he sang for his comrades till the guards cut short his song
Ultimately, Victor Jara was silenced by the military authorities, who could not tolerate his messages of hope and resistance.


They broke the bones in both his hands and beat him on the head
Victor Jara was subjected to brutal torture at the hands of his captors, including physical violence that left him with broken hands and other injuries.


Tortured him with electric wires then they shot him dead
In the end, Victor Jara was brutally murdered by the military authorities, a tragic end to a life that had been dedicated to the struggle for justice and equality in Chile.




Contributed by Ruby B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@RezaAzarmi

Thanks for memorializing Victor Jara❤️ He is still singing! I still can hear him🌅

@yoelbello8281

50 years and Victor still lives in our memories and hearts.

@Finbarheerlen

Keep telling us our history, Christy! Thanks alot!!

@LautaMapu

Thank you for this beautiful song it brought tears to my eyes. My mother was in one of those concentration camps for 3 months in Chile and my oldest brother who was just 10 years old became our father and mother. My mother nor brother have never wanted to return to Chile.

@edmundcoyle364

My thoughts are you with you all.

@svendbosanvovski4241

In a few days it will be 51 years since the murder of Victor Jara. May he live forever in our memories.

@donmilo502

That was a very beautiful song. Victor is a strong image for us here in Chile. His death only made him infinite.

@noamfinnegan8663

Happy Birthday Victor Java, it's no accident I'm here today. The martyrs reign start's when they die.
🇨🇺💚🇮🇪

@reinapiratayquepaha

First time I listen to this and I just couldn't help to cry, thank thank, from one part of the earth to the other.

@noellekeegan2687

A warrior rebel true comrade like us Irish.

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